When former Silicon Knights boss Denis Dyack revealed he was producing a spiritual successor to the GameCube classic Eternal Darkness way back in 2013, fans were overjoyed.
However, confusion over the crowdfunding drive for Shadow of the Eternals led to some

There are some best practices that can be followed when manufacturing a puzzle platformer for the masses. A cute character, easy-to-understand controls and a simple objective are often positives, and Escape from Flare Industries does deliver these in its packaging. Unfortunately, the end product suffers from some defects that...

Some might claim that it's too little, too late, but Minecraft is available on Wii U and is getting some pretty amazing exclusive content, too.
The Super Mario skin pack recently went live and is free to download for anyone who owns the game already. It's also going to be bundled with the...

As another week begins we have more Nintendo Download Update details to consider for Europe. This week brings a range of promising download-only games on both Wii U and 3DS, along with another DS title on the Wii U Virtual Console. Some varied DLC is also on the cards, along...

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is around a month away in the West, and Nintendo has the task of pitching the quirky Atlus-developed cross-over to a new audience. It's always appeared to be a bonkers title, though that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Nintendo of America has now started a new video series that aims to show all the hip...

Of the three major console platforms of the current generation, none seem to be as family oriented as the Wii U. Nintendo has taken some heat for this, of course, with some enthusiasts claiming that it puts out "kiddie" platforms that no self-respecting gamer would dare to admit spending too much time with. Wherever you may stand...

Yooka-Laylee caused a big stir when it was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, with developer Playtonic Games being formed by a group of experienced former Rare employees. When we went hands on and visited the studio we couldn't help but be excited about its potential.
Playtonic Games has been relatively quiet in...

As is likely common knowledge now, Kickstarter campaigns don't always have the Hollywood endings that we wish they could have. Occasionally, unfortunate events occur along the way that effectively make it impossible for the studio to continue development, leaving the eager backers standing in the lurch. It's...

JoinDots' Sweetest Thing is a puzzle game in which you strive to rebuild the sugary realm after it has been destroyed by ants. Another mobile game which has made its way to the Wii U shop, this describes itself as a time management game, but fails to be a challenge for any fan of this genre.
When you...

It's that time once again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week includes some rather neat free and paid DLC along with some rather promising new downloads on both Wii U and 3DS. Virtual Console games, DLC and discounts are also up for grabs,...

As you're likely well aware by now, Minecraft: Wii U Edition has some rather neat and exclusive content - The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack is up for grabs as a free update.
It features all sorts of skins and features, along with an Adventure to take on, and certainly helps the Wii U version to stand out. It's not a phoned-in effort...

Nestled away in the busy excitement of a Nintendo Direct last January, Bandai Namco first announced Project Treasure; a 4 player co-op title set to release exclusively for Wii U. With famed Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and a team of young developers on board, their admirable goal was to create a game that...

While twin-stick shooters are relatively common on rival download stores, the Wii U eShop isn't blessed with many. Tachyon Project, then, offers to fill a gap with its arena-based stages and frantic gameplay, and it does so in decent style.
Presented top-down with a flat perspective, this title is undoubtedly visually...

First impressions can be very important, and The Deer God makes an excellent first impression. It's a shame, then, that it loses momentum so quickly.
Let's get that first impression out of the way first, though. The Deer God is an absolutely beautiful game. In it, you play a hunter whose soul has been trapped in a deer after his...

When Minecraft: Wii U Edition was revealed in late 2015 there was a promise of unique Nintendo content, so it's rather pleasing that it's arrived as a free update rather than paid DLC - The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Even better is the fact that it should be available right now, according to Nintendo, and owners of the game only...

Imagine you're going about your daily routine and then all of a sudden there is an uprising. Lizard-people have come out of hiding in an attempt to wipe-out humanity once-and-for-all, and now it's up to you to grab your weapon of choice and eradicate every last one of the green shape-shifting pests. Conspiracy theories aside,...

SteamWorld Heist has been an excellent title to date on the 3DS eShop, with 'The Outsider' DLC recently giving players a little more content. Many have been waiting for the HD version, however, and there's now been some progress on that front.
In the latest episode of 'The Engine Room', Image & Form has...

While Dan Adelman had a rather grand formal job title at Nintendo of America - Head of Digital Content and Development - he was, in the eyes of many, the Indie Champion; he was highly regarded for his efforts to bring quality download games to WiiWare, and then the eShop on 3DS and Wii U. A little...

Earlier this year we shared some details on Dual Core, a promising shooter from small developer Gray Fin Studios. It now has a confirmed release date for North America, 26th May, and will cost $9.99 - it's still waiting for a final date in Europe, which "will likely be a few weeks later".
This colourful twin-stick shooter has robots as...

Arcane Four Studios is the latest development company that's planning its first foray onto Nintendo hardware. Having already arrived on PC, Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest is arriving on the Wii U eShop in North America on 26th May, with a price tag of $9.99.
It's certainly an ambitious title, with the platforming...

For those of us with credit cards buying eShop games is a simple button press away, but there's still a market for eShop fund cards - whether as gifts or cash-bought, they're a handy option if there's a download that you simply must have. The latest range available in Japan allows gamers to top up with some extra retro style.
Tweeted...

My Nintendo, the loyalty / rewards programme that replaced Club Nintendo, is working a little differently between regions. In North America updates are less frequent but more sweeping, while in Europe there are changes every 2-3 weeks, albeit less new offers each time around.
The European service has now had its mid-May update,...

Another week is underway, and as always we have the European Nintendo Download update to get us up and running. This week brings some high profile DLC and a promising download release on Wii U, while the 3DS has one of its biggest retail releases of the year alongside a couple of...

It's not easy to mix chill with challenge, and yet the Midnight series somehow manages to do a quite decent job of it. Petite Games has brought the twilight golf-like back for another go, providing another round of stages with next to no changes in the formula.
Midnight 2 should feel right at home to those who played its...

For gamers seeking fun with friends Mario Party has long been a good series to visit. Although multiplayer is preferable for the games, there are occasions where you may play alone whether just for practice or because everyone's avoiding you after you mistook that drinking fountain for a bidet. For Mario Party DS (on Wii U at least)...

FAST Racing NEO was a standout title on the Wii U eShop late last year, but Shin'en Multimedia encountered some delays releasing its planned update - the challenge of a global roll-out played a factor. The good news is that the update is coming very soon - on 18th May - and will make some...

It's time for another batch of Nintendo Download Update goodies in North America, and this week certainly has some enticing options. The 3DS gets a relatively high profile retail release, while the Wii U has a mix of highly anticipated and promising download titles. Throw in a Legend...

The head of Microsoft's Xbox division is quite a chilled out guy. Not only does he find the very concept of console wars "distasteful", but he can't stop saying nice things about Nintendo, claiming that the Japanese firm is a "bea

The long-awaiting 90's Arcade Racer has been given a new name - '90s Super GP - but it appears that the title is no longer coming to the Wii U.
The product page on the Nicalis site lists the formats as Xbox One and PS4 only, along with a release date of Fall 2016 - that's three years after the original release...

Have you ever said to yourself, "I would like a game that combines elements of Street Fighter, Space Invaders and Puyo Puyo"? If you have, then you are going to love Blockara.
Blockara is a puzzle game first and foremost, but it borrows plenty of successful mechanics from other games. The result of all that borrowing, however,...

RCMADIAX has revealed that it has another Wii U eShop game in the works, and before you ask, it's not the mystery title that was teased last week.
Zoo Match is coming in Q3 2016 and involves matching cards by "image, sound, or spelling". The developer has stated that the title is aimed...

A few years ago, Wayforward announced Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, a continuation of the metroidvania series that has brought the studio the most attention. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign and a lengthy development process, it seems that the game is in the last leg of its journey to release. To keep backers up to...

The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle is, at the time of writing, in its final stretch. The final offering includes 11 games (and a neat 3DS HOME Theme) - three of which are retail titles - for $13 or more, with three tiers from which to choose. The mix of big-name games and high...

Queen's Garden takes a leaf from games like Candy Crush and Bejewelled, which is no surprise considering it was initially released for smart devices. It's a good addition to your Wii U if you enjoy match-3 puzzles but lacks in the whole 'garden' side of things, with more customization and depth needed.
The difficulty...

The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle has now passed 150,000 purchases, which at the time of writing brings it just shy of $1.5 million in revenue. It's far surpassed the original North America-only bundle, with a global audience no doubt helping to deliver impressive results.
With the bundle due to end at 11am...

When Minecraft: Wii U Edition arrived late last year Mojang, Nintendo and Microsoft promised exclusive Nintendo content in 2016, and now details have been confirmed. The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will be free and available with an update on 17th May (18th May in Europe), and a disc...

Ratalaika Games has announced that it is bringing Thinice's 2.5D platformer Twin Robots to the Wii U eShop "very soon".
Looking a lot like Nintendo's own Chibi-Robo!: Zip-Lash, the game allows you to switch between two robots as they try to work together to find their way out of each level...

Super Meat Boy has been around the block. Developed by Team Meat and designed by Edmund McMillen (one of the creators of the original Flash game, Meat Boy, and designer for another well-known indie title, The Binding of Isaac) and Tommy Refenes, this is the latest in the countless ports...

With another week comes another set of Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and this time around there are some rather tempting options on both Wii U and 3DS. The home console has a long awaited platforming arrival along with some other interesting options, while both...

Since 1998 the Mario Party series has entertained gamers by mixing the play of traditional board games with frantic mini-game action. There have been numerous releases over the years (most recently Mario Party 10) and now Wii U owners can purchase one of the earliest entries from...

"Nintendo is showing that they are forward thinking in their approach"

The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle, now in its final few days, has demonstrably been a success. Unlike 2015's Humble Nindie Bundle it's been available in multiple territories around the world, with a mix of retail and download-only titles tempting eShop gamers to part with...

Mighty No. 9 has finally, to the shock of many, gone gold and been fixed with a firm release window. The game was delayed after numerous delays for varying reasons, but it seems as though extra content made possible by the Kickstarter funds was the main reason for the holdup. Of course, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night also had an...

For those that complain about modern video games being too easy, there are plenty of developers more than happy to serve up fiendishly difficult titles to buck the trend. Mobot Studios seems keen to help fill the gaps, confirming another upcoming Wii U eShop release - the studio previously published the likes of Paper Monsters...

Not so much a game as a creativitiy app, Nostatic Software's PixelMaker does exactly what it says in the title. Those of us with an arty side or penchant for retro gaming will enjoy creating or recreating well known pixel characters with the use of this tool, and the user interface is uncomplicated and easy to grasp. With the...

The ever-useful tools of Photoshop and similar applications mean it's hard to believe much of what we see nowadays, but they can nevertheless bring some wish fulfilment. For example what if the brilliant FAST Racing NEO was allowed to include the iconic Blue Falcon as a vehicle?
Shin'en Multimedia's game is very much its own...

Affordable Space Adventures is, in this writer's opinion, one of the finest download-only titles on the Wii U eShop. It's a rare example in which the GamePad is used brilliantly, and as it's part of the current Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle there's no excuse for Wii U owners not to try it.
Beyond its clever...

It's time for the North American Nintendo Download Update details, once again, and this week brings a relatively broad variety of games. The Wii U has a number of new releases vying for our attention, along with another DS Virtual Console title. The New 3DS gets a fun arrival on its...

Prolific eShop developer RCMADIAX has revealed that it has just submitted an unannounced Wii U title to Nintendo of America for approval. The indie has confirmed that it will reveal more information on the game once approval has been granted.
The studio's last Wii U eShop title - SUPER ROBO MOUSE - launched earlier this month, and it...

For the handful of you that own a PS Vita, you may remember Kick & Fennick. The action platformer made its debut on the troubled handheld in February 2015, and while the concept of it seemed interesting enough, it received mixed reviews. Kick & Fennick sees players take control of a young boy named Kick who rockets...

PixelMaker arrived on the European Wii U eShop on 28th April, and now Nostatic Software has confirmed it's hitting the North American store this week on 5th May; it'll cost $2.99 in the US.
Having previously brought us VoxelMaker, Nostatic now seems to be taking the same approach to producing pixel art. At a budget...

Yes. You are reading the title correctly. This is the review for Epic Dumpster Bear. A Unity-made precision platformer with a hilarious twist. Created by Log Games Ltd. (creators of the Wii U puzzle game Puzzle Monkeys), Epic Dumpster Bear takes you through the tragic life of Dumpster Bear, an unsuspecting brown...

A few months back, it was announced that Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge would be arriving on both Wii U and 3DS. The sort-of sequel in the long-running Mario & Donkey Kong series aims to take a free-to-play approach to things, with the caveat that you need amiibo to unlock see everything the game has to...

The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle has enjoyed decent success so far, passing $1 million in money raised. It's now had the standard mid-bundle additions, adding three titles overall.
Of the three new games two are for the Wii U eShop and one for the 3DS eShop - they are Runbow, Swords & Soldiers II and

Last year, Dot Arcade on the Wii U eShop simmered gameplay down into its simplest, retro arcade-like form and served it up with pizzazz. One of the three games available in that package has now busted out as Dodge Club Party, upping the number of players yet losing much of its flair in the process.
Dodge Club Party operates very...

Video games have come a long way from their humble, straightforward beginnings. They're still a form of entertainment, primarily designed to help you waste time and relax, so there will always be a mission to complete, a goal to achieve or an enemy to defeat. However, there are simpler, quieter stories to be told as well, with an...

Many of you are no doubt looking forward to the launch of Super Meat Boy on Wii U, which was recently reported to be happening "very soon". The title has had something of a troubled release history with Nintendo platforms; it was initially set to release on Wiiware, before getting cancelled due to file...

The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle is the second 'Humble Bundle' that has featured eShop games, and is the first to be available globally. We previously reported that it had started quickly with over 60,000 bundles sold in under 24 hours, and it's now passed another notable landmark.
At the time of writing the...

When it comes to pinball games for the Wii U, there's really not a whole lot of options available. Zen Pinball 2 is obviously the first name that comes to mind, and while it certainly delivers a diverse and in-depth library of tables to choose from (along with the standalone Star Wars Pinball), one occasionally must wonder what it...

It's a Bank Holiday in some countries but Nintendo has still sent out the European Nintendo Download Update details, albeit a little later than usual. This week we have some interesting new arrivals on the eShop stores and a lot of discounts, which are sure to tempt some...

As you may have been aware, a range of My Nintendo rewards expired on 1st May, and new options have now been posted in North America and Europe. They're all discounts, which was expected as those that disappeared were equivalent deals.
Due to differences in regional expiry dates the North American region has a lot of new offers,...

Some of you may remember Nostatic Software's VoxelMaker, which made its debut on the Wii U eShop last October. The game stood out a bit due to its nature of being more of a 3D modeling tool than an actual game. We gave it a solid recommendation, praising the depth and variety of its toolset, though a...

My Nintendo has, so far, proven to be an interesting Club Nintendo replacement. It's been quite flexible, and with Miitomo rewards thrown in has included some quirky treats for those that like virtual outfits. Beyond that it's included full game downloads, DLC and a variety of discounts.
Nevertheless the end is nigh for a whole...

Have you ever watched a movie that's so bad it's good? One that you know you rationally should not enjoy, but do anyway? If you have, then you might understand the appeal of Paranautical Activity.
Paranautical Activity is a bit like a mashup of three separate games in three disparate genres. The core gameplay...

At this point, the journey that Mighty No. 9 has taken to development has become almost comical. After a record breaking Kickstarter, hype was at an all-time high, but things quickly began to deflate after numerous delays and an attempt at doing a second fundraising campaign. The development team has remained worryingly quiet as...

This late in the Wii U's lifecycle the low expectations for good Nintendo Web Framework games are becoming the norm. Where we were once shocked at the poor quality of a number of these low-budget indie titles, we now roll our eyes and shrug. But when a title is hyped by its developer as its pièce de résistance, the end result had better...

It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update, and this week has some promising options. One of the Wii's finest games lands on the Wii U Virtual Console, while both eShop platforms have interesting download-only options to consider. On top of...

Nintendo has, despite some hotly debated announcements, returned profits for the last financial year. Hooray! As a business it also had some positives to share in terms of sales, in particular pointing to upward momentum in key areas.
One of these is in downloads, with a significant slice of sales moving...

Xenoblade Chronicles has had a somewhat troubled history in North America. It took longer than seemed fair to make its way to the region, and then was exclusive to GameStop and Nintendo's rather limited official store of the time. GameStop was criticised for pricing and stock availability, and was even accused at one point of selling...

In the past 24 hours Humble Bundle launched the second ever Nintendo eShop offering, the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle. It contains a mix of retail downloads and eShop-only titles at a huge discount (with more to be announced in six day's time) and, importantly, it's available around the world...

It's really no secret at all that many of us at Nintendo Life are giddy for Runbow and its perilous, polychromatic platforming. We scored it a 9 in our review and it ranked on both staff and readers' digital picks for last year. The crew at 13AM Games has since released some additional c

North American gamers may remember the Humble Nindie Bundle last year, which offered huge savings on some excellent eShop games. It was only available in that region, but now we have a new bundle announced for both Europe (including Australia and South Africa) and the Americas...

UPDATE: Well, this is embarrassing. Thanks to kindly people on Twitter like Prof.9, it has come to our attention that "12/02/16" is actually using the European date system (12th February 2016) and not the American system (2nd December 2016). The 12th was the original launch date for the game in Europe.
It would appear that...

Some of you may have been aware of a recent Kickstarter project called Pankapu: The Dreamkeeper. An interesting 2D action platformer that calls to mind UbiArt projects like Child of Light or Rayman Origins, this project received its funding to go into production at the tail end of last year. A Wii U port was one of the...

The opening of Chasing Dead sees you hurtling into the atmosphere of a newly discovered second Earth, Intel delivered to you via a short video sequence consisting of a live actress with a cheap looking OSD overlay; one could easily imagine a parallel universe where the Mega CD2 became a reality and FMV games continued to thrive...

Have you ever seen one of those back-of-magazine art school tests? The ones that provide simple line art of, say, a turtle and ask you to turn it into something more detailed by adding on top of it? That's how Draw 2 Survive feels at the moment. It has potential, but what's currently there needs to be drawn out and embellished...